born.in.japan

Wordless Wednesday

Finger Painting

Ewan is nearly eight months old now. He is aware. He is curious. He explores his world. Given all this, I thought it was time. Time for him to stop observing and witnessing, time to start creating.

So we did.

First, I created some homemade (read: safe to eat) finger paints using water, cornstarch and food coloring.

I made a drop cloth using paper grocery sacks, stripped Ewan down to his diaper, and let him go.

He was timid at first. Not quite sure what to do with what he had been given. I helped him by putting some paint into his hand.

Once he got started, there really wasn’t any stopping him. Within moments, he developed his own, unique style.

And this is the final piece. I’m not sure what we’ll do to preserve Ewan’s first creation, but it definitely needs something special.

Now that we’ve started creating, I can’t wait to continue. Perhaps we can do playdoh next.

Wordless Wednesday

Cell phone camera edition. A reminder to myself to pull out the good camera a little more often.

All Things Pumpkin

Maybe its fall.

Maybe its the jack’o'lanterns adorning porches in the neighborhood.

Maybe its the fact that I haven’t baked in about two years.

Maybe its that I’ve been seeing all sorts of irresistible pumpkin recipes over at tastespotting.

Maybe its the signs on grocery shelves announcing that the pumpkin is all sold out, while I still have a few cans in my cupboard.

Who knows what it is, really, but it doesn’t matter. Pumpkin is so in around here.

It started with a pumpkin pasta. Which was delicious.

Then the babe started eating it too. He likes his with brown rice and a touch of cinnamon.

Right now there are pumpkin scones baking in the oven and the scent is filling every corner of the house. It is heavenly.

Even with all the pumpkin that has already happened around here, I can’t help but dream of more.

Peanut Butter Pumpkin Brownies . . .

Pumpkin Pancakes . . .

Pumpkin Cobbler . . .

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal . . .

Pumpkin French Toast . . .

When will all this pumpkin love end? I don’t know, maybe next spring.

Celebrating: Babbling

Ewan has been chatty for awhile, but mostly it was grunting and growling. Very primitive vocalizations.

Just recently he has started to broaden his vocal repertoire, adding in a variety of consonant sounds and blending them together. He’s playing and it is so fun to listen.

When I went out, on my own, last weekend, Aaron sent me this little message and I couldn’t resist sharing it here.

Click here to listen.

After hearing it I joked with Aaron, who so far has been a “papa” around these parts, that he can’t change his chosen label on a whim simply because the sounds are easier for Ewan right now. While da-da and la-la and ba-ba are the favorite sounds, I am sure it is only a matter of time before pa-pa and ma-ma enter the mix.

My Favorite Corner

There are many little places in our home that I love, but there is one that I love more than the rest. It’s a good thing actually, since it is the corner where I also spend quite a bit of time.

I nurse here. I relax with a book and a cup of tea here. I rock my babe late at night here. I sit here and dream and imagine. And it is such an easy place to be, since I am surrounded by so many of my favorite things in this little corner.

Spring and Fall. Two of the four seasons from our second anniversary art purchase.

A guardian angel, a little gift from one of my cousins. It always makes me smile when I see it.

Our books to read shelf. A number of titles, waiting to be read, right there at my fingertips, inviting me to grab them when I have a spare moment.

A basket full of knitting projects and yarn, just waiting to be played with.

My favorite (and finished) curtains. These are, by far, the sewing project that I am most proud of…ever. Sitting by them makes me happy just looking at the bright red peonies and inspires me to sew more, patiently.

Backwash

Guess which cup belonged to Ewan . . .

Go Watch This

As I mentioned a while back, when we were visiting in Madison, we had the opportunity to participate in the Nursing is Normal project.

Last weekend was the gallery opening of the show and as much as I wanted to go, we weren’t able to make the trip.

Fortunately, Lea put up a slideshow on YouTube for those of us that couldn’t make it and as a way to spread the word. Nursing is normal!

For anyone that nurses now, I hope you too have the courage to go out and nurse in public. Do it anyway and anywhere that you feel comfortable, but do it. It’s not always easy, but it can be fun and it is important (both for normalizing nursing and for getting you and babe out of the house).

For anyone considering nursing, try it. Try it for a day. Try it for a week. Try it for as long as you can. Nursing doesn’t have to tie you down or coop you up, unless you let it. In fact, nursing can be incredibly liberating. The milk is always there, it is always the right temperature. No bottles to sterilize, no formula to buy.

For anyone with a nursing family member or friend, encourage them, support them. Recognize the gift they are choosing to give their child.

For anyone witnessing a nursing mother in public, don’t stare but don’t avert your eyes either. There is no need to blush. There is no need to ignore her. Nothing embarassing is going on, it just happens to be mealtime.

Thanks again Lea! I had a great time and love the slideshow!

The Way We Get Things Done

This is the way I get things done with a babe who is often reluctant to nap on his own in bed (he is getting better though). During a three hour nap this afternoon, while being unable to sit down, I managed to get lots done.

Bread bowls were made.

As was the soup, a Butternut Squash Bisque, to fill them.

Homemade Chewy Granola Bars, perfect for lunches and snacks, are sitting on the counter waiting to be cut.

The final pressing and cutting was done for our living room curtains. They are ready to be sewn.

It was a great nap, both for Ewan and myself. He sleeps better on my back as I go about my daily business. I get more done when he is there as well because I can’t sit down and waste time on the computer and I don’t spend his entire nap peeking into the bedroom to check on him. It is good and it works for us!

Making

Now that the boxes are unpacked, mostly. And we have settled into a routine, kind of. I am finding that I have just a little time to make stuff and it feels so good.

Beer, 45 bottles to be exact. The first batch from our Chicago homebrew operation and we are calling it “Ramsey Raspberry.” Two more weeks in the bottles conditioning before we can give it a taste. It’s going to be a long two weeks.

A wool hat for Ewan. This one is made from some of my leftover handspun yarn and it will have ear flaps. We have plenty of wonderful woolens stashed about the house for our adult sized selves, hats and mittens, scarves and socks, some sweaters too, but very little for little people. That must be remedied.

Curtains for our living room. This fabric is just so happy. At first, I thought it might actually be too happy. But now, after working with it for a little while, it feels just right. Just the sort of thing that will make me smile when I come out into the living room in the morning.

I’m hoping the making can continue because I have such a long list of things that I’m dreaming about. Little baby shoes, hand sewn handkerchiefs, embroidered tea towels, a secret surprise Christmas project (no, it isn’t too early), pumpkin oatmeal bread, a turtle costume for our little one, maple butter granola, and so very much more.